Feliks Audio ENVY

[kajetanjazz]

Medium and high gain are not that different, medium gain should be lower and low gain should also be lower. You mostly only get a higher noisefloor with high gain. Solution: Don't use high gain, use mostly low gain, for hard to drive stuff switch to medium.

They do differ however. Medium has 8ohm and high is 20ohm in output impedance. I prefer the sound of high gain even though it’s only 2db volume difference from the mid

 

[nwavesailor]

I may have had a bit of 'wobble' as illustrated in Ex video.
I did send my amp to Upscale Audio to get a new transformer last summer and Feliks included a new transformer cover and some other parts for the repair / replacement of the transformer.
Perhaps the tech replaced or tightened these 2 knobs or replaced the underlying switches?

What I do know is these are both rock solid with no 'wobble' or play whatsoever......... today!
You can never discount luck and I suppose I'm lucky.

 

[Elect37]

Probably not hundreds but I've seen over twenty at shows and each one had what Exekuhtor described.
This isn't a bad thing either but common enough to think that this is the normal intended behaviour

I have Envy AE and I have play or wobble however, we wish to describe it as well

 

[incredulousity]

Nope!
Somehow mine do not, no movement or wobble at all.
Perhaps 'most', not every, Envy???

Mine do not wobble either.

 

[Elect37]

Mine do not wobble either.

I don’t know. I’m starting to think no wobble is a bad thing. It might be all bound up too tight. It needs to be freed up.

 

[incredulousity]

I don’t know. I’m starting to think no wobble is a bad thing. It might be all bound up too tight. It needs to be freed up.

That’s what she said…

 

[Elect37]

That’s what she said…

The play on my AE is so slight
I definitely wouldn’t call mine a wobble by any means

 

[Elect37]

How many here are gonna be going to CanJam New York City? Maybe do a meet up?

 

[nfandi]

The play on my AE is so slight
I definitely wouldn’t call mine a wobble by any means

So, unlike some others here, you are not suffering from knob wobble.

 

[Elect37]

So, unlike some others here, you are not suffering from knob wobble.

that’s hysterical
Nope

 

[CharlyBrown]

I asked Feliks whether Envy was OK with a 6V input and they side it will be fine but 2V is preferable

Is there even a high end DAC without preamp that has a (fixed) output of 2v or less? Looks to me the use of a preamp (module) is the best option.

Just ordered them, Ill let you know -> no matter what it will be bliss going from a defect WE300B to all working tubes plus the Brimars -> probably wouldn't have gone down this upgrade route if everything was working from the get go haha

I made the experience that the 300Bs make the most difference. To be honest, I bought the Brimar 1988s (also brown base, transparent ones) mainly because of looks But I got a very good deal and only paid 200 EUR for a used pair. NOS Red Base RCAs incoming, as well. Also bought mainly for looks and as spares for the Brimars. I don’t expect much of a sonic difference, either.

The problem with comparing tubes is audio memory. It obviously takes a long time to change tubes and listen again if you don’t have 2 equal amps with different tube settings plus driver tubes differences are not that obvious. That’s why it is great @Exekuhtor was able to compare just like that.

All the experienced tube fans say that the Brimars are good, so you will be fine

Voltage might not be a problem explicitly, but the gain is - mid/high are so vast that the pot has to be turned all the way down (8 o’clock!), which hurts the sonics and dynamic range. It’s a shame that is the most generic potentiometer, not some nice stepped one. With May directly low gain would be okay volume wise with abyss, but it chokes. Now I just set up Envy to 2 o’clock high gain and control with the remote from a chair

That is one reason why I wanted to have the Spring. It has the option to be upgraded with a top notch preamp module + a great remote control. I sit 2m+ from my system so a remote is perfect for me.

That's one of the three flaws of the Envy.
The potentiometer makes the unit too loud too quickly - people almost only use the first third. Solution: Use a preamp.
The gain / input knobs are wobbly. Solution: Don't touch it.
Medium and high gain are not that different, medium gain should be lower and low gain should also be lower. You mostly only get a higher noisefloor with high gain. Solution: Don't use high gain, use mostly low gain, for hard to drive stuff switch to medium.

Do you use your Immanis on Mid gain, too?

So, unlike some others here, you are not suffering from knob wobble.

I belong to the members with the beautiful knob wobble feature! Honestly, who cares? It’s not super tactile but therefore it represents a perfect analog character!

 

[Doug2507]

Is there even a high end DAC without preamp that has a (fixed) output of 2v or less? Looks to me the use of a preamp (module) is the best option.

M21 (and I'm guessing M1/M3 but I'd need to go check spec) is 1.2v@+6dB with RCA.

 

[CharlyBrown]

M21 (and I'm guessing M1/M3 but I'd need to go check spec) is 1.2v@+6dB with RCA.

When will your new Envy arrive?

 

[Doug2507]

When will your new Envy arrive?

Towards the end of Feb I think Charly...

 

[Exekuhtor]

That’s why it is great @Exekuhtor was able to compare just like that.

Sadly keeping the OG Envy for just A/B testing tubes was out of the question.

Do you use your Immanis on Mid gain, too?

Aye.
Unveiled, CC (allthough here i might think mid makes it sound a bit better? I need to check that more), Valkyria on low, 1266TC and Immanis on mid.


When i think about it: That is the ultimate power move: Having two of the exact same tube TOTL amp just for directly comparing your tube rolls...